Effective Expression
Students who have achieved the standards in grades nine
and ten demonstrate the ability to express themselves in writing,
discussing, and presenting, and they demonstrate considerable
command of language conventions. Building from this
foundation, expectations and examples of instruction for grades
eleven and twelve are portrayed in the following sections.
Writing
Expectations for writing at grades eleven and twelve
are advanced. Students write arguments using precise and
knowledgeable claims; they supply the most relevant evidence
for their claims and counterclaims and anticipate the audience’s
knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases. They
organize complex elements in informative/explanatory writing so that each new element builds on
that which precedes it to create a unified whole; and they use techniques in narrative writing to build
toward a particular tone and outcome (e.g., sense of mystery, suspense, growth, resolution).
In the following snapshot, students plan their writing of an argument related to their reading of
King Lear.
Snapshot 7.7. Paraphrasing Textual Evidence
to Support Argumentative Writing
Integrated ELA and ELD in Grade ElevenMrs. Ellis explicitly teaches the writing process in her eleventh-grade English class. One
technique she teaches is paraphrasing--a basic move that can help students generate evidence
needed for crafting a sophisticated, well-supported argument. Mrs. Ellis reminds her students
that prewriting skills, such as paraphrasing, easily transfer between subject areas and writing
tasks. Because her students have practiced paraphrasing before, Ms. Ellis approaches the
lesson as a review.
To delve into this particular strategy, Mrs. Ellis uses a retired AP English Language prompt
that asks students to chorally read with her a line from a Shakespearian play, King Lear, where
King Lear’s view of the relationship between wealth and justice can be deciphered.
Through tatter’d clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furr’d gowns hide all. Plate sins with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pigmy’s straw does pierce it.
Shakespeare, King LearGrades 11 and 12 Chapter 7 | 773